| Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age said: “Today we found out that water bills will be rising more than first feared, as Ofwat confirmed there will be significant increases in England and Wales from next year. This 36% increase will be an extremely tough pill to swallow for older people across the country living in financial hardship. “Polling we commissioned in October revealed the widespread anxiety felt by many people in later life regarding their water bills, with 66% of older people (65+) in England with an income of under £15,000 saying they would find it difficult to manage a 20% increase to their water bill. “Living in water poverty can be an isolating and miserable experience and the older people we speak to have already been forced to make drastic cutbacks. “For many, the reality is not showering every day, leaving bedding and clothes dirty to save on laundry and not always flushing the toilet. We live in the sixth richest nation, these aren’t decisions people in later life should be forced to make. “All water companies provide some form of financial support, but there is an unfair and confusing postcode lottery, consumers can’t shop for a provider and are faced with a patchwork of different schemes with varying eligibility criteria and fluctuating discounts in place. The UK Government must intervene to support those struggling to afford their water bills and introduce a single social tariff for water for England and Wales. “A person’s address shouldn’t determine the level of support they receive towards essential bills, and nobody in later life should have to limit their water usage just to get by.” |
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